The Guarisco Farmhouse is a conscious reinterpretation of a 19th century Alabama folk housing typology: the Spraddle Roof Dog-trot. The traditional Dog-trot is a simple gable structure that is characterized by a central breezeway that runs through the middle of the house. The Spraddle Roof refers to interruptions or splays in the roof structure to produce additional interior or exterior space on both the front and back of the house.

The Guarisco Farmhouse aims to preserve the organizational efficiency of this typology by building service program into thickened walls, resulting in a compartmentalized yet well connected ground floor.

The thickness of these service walls is emphasized through their materiality, giving weight and tactility to the space.